Happenings and Adventures in the Bristolwood

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While I had every intention to post here yesterday,

somehow, the day just seemed to get away from me! So, settle in with a cuppa and I will fill you in on our (very) long day Wednesday!

The day began by leaving home early…before seven. We drove to Rochester as Mark’s mom had a doctor’s appointment at nine. We picked her up and dropped her off at the hospital, where her doctor is located.

After leaving the hospital, we hopped on over to a WalMart located only a few blocks away. As I got out of the truck, there were two men behind it, making it impossible for me to open the back to get Mark’s wheelchair out. After excusing myself, one man apologized profusely as the other man handed a five dollar bill into his hand.

With Mark in the wheelchair, we began to head up to the store, when the man who had been given the five dollar bill called out to us. He caught up with us and wanted to know if we might give him some money. He pulled his jacket back and explained he worked for Rochester General Hospital. (The reason for pulling back the coat was to expose a rather ratty-looking shirt with the hospital initials embroidered on the front) The man, missing some front teeth, assured us he was no “54 year-old bum”, but had run out of gas…diesel, specifically, and he needed to buy a gas can so he could get gas to fill his tank. The tank cost $12.99 and he only had $5.43, which he had planned to use for lunch.

At this point, the man (almost) sounded believable. However, at this particular point, with the man in close proximity, I could not really inform Mark that I had not two minutes before seen another man hand him $5.00 behind our truck. Mark is a smart guy, though. He began to roll over in the wheelchair toward the gas station. He told the man he would buy him the gas can on his charge card since he didn’t have the money. The man hesitated at first, then told Mark he wouldn’t want to put him through all that trouble of going “so far”. It was a nice day and Mark had no qualms about rolling maybe five hundred feet to the gas station. Finally, the guy said, “Someone else (fool) will give me the money.”

What a scheme….panhandling in the WalMart parking lot. I wonder just how many five dollar bills he nets in a day. I won’t wonder what he does with them. (Ben spotted the “latebecauseIranoutofgas” employee as we drove from the parking lot….)

We shopped in WalMart for a few minutes, then Mark’s mom called to be picked up. We drove past Irondequoit Bay, on Lake Ontario, on the way to my mother-in-law’s house. I asked Mark to stop and I hopped out. There was only a pair of Mallard Ducks swimming nearby, but as I stood taking photos, a couple of Canada Geese that had been grazing quite dangerously near the roadway decided to come on over. (The goose in the previous post was one of them!)

I never tire of photographing Canada Geese. Although they can be real pests, they are so beautiful. While I was photographing particularly the one goose (who seemed to enjoy my company) a Swan must have seen or heard us, as it too came toward me! It was on the lake, apparently amongst the reeds.

This Swan was so friendly. Although it never left the water, it swam right to me at the water’s edge.

This isn’t a great photo, but another Swan showed up. It was out on the water a good distance when I took this one. I love the way the light was filtering through the Swan’s far wing, illuminating it!

I love going to the bay where I encountered hundreds of waterfowl, all at once…..but this little “intimate” encounter was great as I could get some nice photos of the birds, closeup.

I could have spent hours here, right along a busy road, taking photos, but with Mark, his mom, and Ben in the truck, I felt satisfied after several photos.

We took Mark’s mom back to her house where I walked Murphy to let him do his business. As we walked in the back yard, I could not believe the number of branches and limbs that had come down in the yard during the high winds we have had. I told Mark and he suggested I might pick them up. Since Ben was with us, I asked him to help….the two of us worked nonstop for over an hour and we got most everything. A few small branches were left, but my mother-in-law said she would finish up.

We had to go to Henrietta after leaving Mark’s mom’s house. As we drove down a busy road, Mark commented there were Wild Turleys in the yard of a house on his side if the car. Of course, we had to turn around. I bounded out the door and hoped I would be able to catch up with the flock. Since the birds were right near a house, I didn’t dare close in on them. I looked and spotted a small stream running behind the house. Quickly, I walked down a small road that lead to an office park. Directly behind the house with the turkeys was a day care center. Yikes! It would be awful to think I might get in trouble for being there…especially with a camera!

I tried to keep clear of the building and didn’t get nearly as close as I would have wanted. Ah well….

Even though these photos aren’t great, you get the idea. One male…many girlies! And my, oh my, did he strut his stuff!

There were a lot more turkeys that I didn’t get in this shot…there must have been at least fifteen hens.

Gads, what a bunch of turkeys!

We picked Michelle up at RIT and then we had some time to kill. The kids had planned to attend a concert at a church in Rochester. We did a little shopping and dropped the kids off a little after six.

Mark and Murphy and I were alone and on our own. We pulled into a McDonald’s located a couple of miles from the church. Mark had set up his laptop so he could connect to our media computer at home. He then fiddled around until the laptop connected and we were able to watch the Buffalo Sabres game…via his cell phone!

We sat at McDonald’s for several hours…as I gulped, seeing the No Loitering sign mounted across from us! No one bothered us at all and we didn’t bother anyone either. Twice, while we were sitting there, a young woman suddenly appeared, handing “something” to a person in a vehicle. As quickly as she appeared, she disappeared. Strange. Mark suspects drugs.

We also watched as two mounted police officers leisurely rode down the sidewalk right next to our car. I have never seen horses on the sidewalks before, and what was really funny was the fact that it was after 10pm and the guys each had a cup of coffee in one hand!

Ah…we picked the kids up near midnight. There was a big band that performed last and Michelle was so excited to see them!

We got home around one in the morning. Needless to say, we all dropped into bed! What a day!!!

Panhandlers…turkeys….horses on sidewalks….I am so thrilled to live in the Bristolwood!

2 Responses

Honestly…you could write a book! It would be a best seller! Isn’t it amazing the lengths that some “people” will go to for scams. When I worked at the Xerox tower downtown, there was a man that asked me for money every single day. I mean EVERY day!! Tax free money. I am positive that he used it for booze. I gave him a quarter. Most of the time. Ben didn’t want me to give him anything. I figured maybe he’d buy coffee with the quarter! Looking forward to Sunday! As I said…eat a light lunch…we are bringing a snack!!